Earth, mother dear, I turn at last,﻿A homesick child, to thee!
The twilight glow is fading fast,﻿And soon I shall be free
To seek the dwelling, dim and vast,﻿Where thou awaitest me.

I am so weary, mother dear!—﻿Thy child, of dual race,
Who gazing past the star-beams clear,﻿Sought the Undying's face!Now I but ask to know thee near,﻿To feel thy large embrace!

Tranquil to lie against thy breast—﻿Deep source of noiseless springs,
Where hearts are healed, and wounds are dressed,﻿And naught or sobs or sings:
Against thy breast to lie at rest—﻿A life that folds its wings.

Sometime I may—for who can tell?—﻿Awake, no longer tired,
And see the fields of asphodel,﻿The dreamed-of, the desired,
And find the heights where He doth dwell,﻿To whom my heart aspired!